Hamilton: "Mercedes have to over-deliver to beat Ferrari"

Lewis Hamilton is aware that his Mercedes side may have to dig a bit deeper this season to beat the quicker Ferrari.

Lewis Hamilton thinks his Mercedes team will have to that little bit more this season to beat Ferrari in the constructors' championship, and also on a personal note - to beat Sebastian Vettel in the drivers' standings.

Hamilton is currently 24 points ahead of the Ferrari driver as we approach the second-half of the season.

"We are racing a team that is faster than us this year," Hamilton told Formula1.com.

"Last year we were quite balanced, as there were some weekends they were faster than us and some weekends we were faster than them.

"But this year, it is swinging more in their direction. We are having to over-deliver on race weekends and pull out more on weekends where we are not quick enough. The pressure to extract every millimetre of every ounce is greater than ever if I want to be number one at the end."

The current world champion says that due to how tight the battle is for the top spot, mistakes could be crucial in deciding who comes out victorious.

"Ultimately last year we reached just as high in terms of pressure at some point - it is just that this year it is even closer than last year as you know, so the smallest mistakes are even more costly," Hamilton explained.

"Then there is more pressure. That is the same for any sport if you know the last shot or last serve is the most important it is the most intense battle."